In a season with plenty of struggles – one win and several lopsided losses in nine games – Truman’s football team maintained a never-quit attitude.

That fortitude paid big dividends Friday, as the Patriots drove 93 yards to score the winning touchdown with 59 seconds left for a 27-26 victory over host North Kansas City to open the Class 5, District 7 playoffs.

Sophomore quarterback Carter Brown found Caleb Loa for a 23-yard scoring pass to tie the game, and freshman Josh Dixon added the PAT kick for the decisive point. The victory wasn’t secure until Northtown kicker Damien Hood’s line drive boot for a 34-yard field goal attempt with five seconds left drifted just to the left.

“Just super proud of these guys,” Truman coach Charlie Pugh said after a getting a couple water bottles dumped on him in celebration. “They just battled. We put them in tough positions offensively and defensively, and they came through every time. They wanted this for each other.”

With less than three minutes left in the game, Truman took over at its own 7 after a punt. Brown scrambled and found Devon Scheib for 28 yards, a pass interference penalty moved the Patriots (2-8) into Hornet territory. On fourth-and-7, Brown connected with Aaron Lehman for 24 yards.

On the next snap, fullback Loa slipped free into the left flat, caught Brown’s pass and picked up a block into the end zone.

Brown finished 7-of-18 passing for 172 yards, including a 42-yarder to Chase Schroeder in the first quarter for Truman’s second touchdown.

“They’re always there,” Pugh said of his team’s big plays on offense “We’re just missing them. Our passing game has really come along with Carter. They do a great job for him, and he’s a great student of the game.